Distributor for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

The distributor has a distributor rotor with a radially extending rotor electrode attached nonrotably to a drive shaft, a distributor cap provided with a number of connectors on top each having a through-going opening in an interior wall of the cap, a center electrode insertable through the center connector in the cap and distributor electrodes insertable through peripherally disposed connectors so that they are positionable spaced from the rotor electrode during rotation of the distributor rotor past them, connecting cables each of which are connected to an electrode for conveying ignition energy to a spark plug and retaining members each releasably holding one of the distributor electrodes in place in the cap. The free end of one of the electrodes may be serrated or knurled while its other end together with the connected end of the connecting cable is enclosed by a lip member made of an elastic insulating material, in which one of the connectors is insertable and tightly held.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A distributor for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine with a drive shaft and connectable electrically to at least one spark plug comprising: a distributor rotor having a rotor axis and a radially extending rotor electrode, said distributor rotor being nonrotatably mountable on a drive shaft, said rotor electrode having a first free end,   a distributor cap made of insulating material having an interior wall and being provided with a plurality of through-going openings.   at least one connecting cable, each of said cables being connected electrically to one of said spark plugs, ignition energy being conducted over said cables from said rotor electrode,   a center electrode provided in said distributor cap,   a plurality of distributor electrodes past which said rotor electrode is moved spaced therefrom, each of said distributor electrodes being insertable through one of said through-going openings in said cap and being connectable electrically to one of said connecting cables, said ignition energy being conductable to said distributor electrode from said distributor rotor, and   a plurality of retaining members releasably holding each of said distributor electrodes in place in said distributor cap.   
     
     
       2. A distributor according to claim 1, further comprising another retaining member releasably holding said center electrode in position in said distributor cap and wherein said center electrode has a free end projecting into said cap adjacent said first free end of said rotor electrode directed toward said rotor axis of said distributor rotor. 
     
     
       3. A distributor according to claim 2, wherein said other retaining member comprises an automatically locking holder sleeve, which supports itself on said center electrode and said interior wall of said cap. 
     
     
       4. A distributor according to claim 3, wherein said center electrode has a pin with an annular shoulder, on which said holder sleeve is supported and said holder sleeve has at least one resilient arm extending from said holder sleeve and braced on said interior wall of said distributor cap. 
     
     
       5. A distributor according to claim 3, further comprising a plastic cover and a connecting element enclosed by said plastic cover for said center electrode and a connecting element enclosed by said plastic cover and wherein said holder sleeve is part of said plastic cover of said center electrode, said center electrode associated with said connecting element also being at least partially enclosed by said plastic cover, said holder sleeve having at least one locking arm having a locking surface projecting through said through-going opening associated with said electrode, whose locking surface contacts on said interior wall of said cap when said electrode is inserted in said through-going opening. 
     
     
       6. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member comprises an automatically locking holder sleeve, which supports itself on said distributor electrode and said interior wall of said cap. 
     
     
       7. A distributor according to claim 6, further comprising a plastic cover and a connecting element enclosed by said plastic cover for each of said distributor electrodes and wherein said holder sleeve is part of said plastic cover of each of said distributor electrodes, said distributor electrodes each associated with one of said connecting elements also being at least partially enclosed by said plastic cover, said holder sleeve having at least one locking arm having a locking surface projecting through said through-going opening associated with said distributor electrode, whose locking surface contacts on said interior wall of said cap when said electrode is inserted in said through-going opening. 
     
     
       8. A distributor according to claim 6, wherein each of said distributor electrodes has a pin with an annular shoulder, on which said holder sleeve is supported and said holder sleeve has at least one resilient arm extending from said holder sleeve and braced on said interior wall of said distributor cap. 
     
     
       9. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein said distributor electrodes and said center electrode each have a free end and said free ends are knurled. 
     
     
       10. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein said distributor electrodes and said center electrode each have a free end and said free ends are serrated. 
     
     
       11. A distributor according to claim 10, wherein said distributor cap has a plurality of connectors projecting exteriorly from said cap in the vicinity of each of said through-going openings and a plurality of lip members made of elastic insulating material in which each of said connectors are insertable, each of said lip members partially enclosing said resistor and said connecting cable. 
     
     
       12. A distributor according to claim 11, wherein each of said connectors has an inner wall forming a stepped passage inwardly constricted toward one of said through-going openings, each of said lip members fitting each of said stepped passages. 
     
     
       13. A distributor according to claim 12, wherein said lip member has a plurality of annular bulged portions, which deform in said stepped passage when said lip member is inserted therein. 
     
     
       14. A distributor according to claim 12, wherein each of said lip members has a socket sleeve which surrounds said connector peripherally when said connector is plugged in said socket sleeve. 
     
     
       15. A distributor according to claim 13, wherein each of said connecting cables is oriented at approximately right angles to said distributor electrodes and said center electrode. 
     
     
       16. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein each of said center and distributor electrodes comprises a pin and further comprising a resistor located between said connecting cable and said pin. 
     
     
       17. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein each of said center and distributor electrodes comprises a pin and further comprising a resistor suppressor located between said connecting cable and said pin. 
     
     
       18. A distributor according to claim 1, wherein said rotor electrode is made of an alloy of calcium and silicon. 
     
     
       19. A distributor connectable electrically to at least one spark plug comprising: a drive shaft,   a distributor rotor having a rotor axis and a radially extending rotor electrode, said distributor rotor being nonrotatably mounted on said drive shaft, said rotor electrode having a first free end,   a distributor cap made of insulating material having an interior wall and being provided with a plurality of through-going openings,   a plurality of distributor electrodes past which said rotor electrode is moved spaced therefrom, each of said distributor electrodes being insertable through one of said through-going openings in said cap, said ignition energy being conductable to said distributor electrode from said distribution rotor, and   a plurality of retaining members, each of said retaining members releasably holding one of said distributor electrodes in place in said distributor cap, each of said retaining members comprising an automatically locking holder sleeve, which supports itself on said distributor electrode.   
     
     
       20. A distributor according to claim 19, wherein each of said distributor electrodes has a pin with an annular shoulder, on which said holder sleeve is supported and said holder sleeve has at least one resilient arm extending from said holder sleeve and braced on said interior wall of said distributor cap.